Author: Stacy White
Planning Unit: Whitley County CES
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Plan of Work: Effective Resource Management
Outcome: Initial Outcome
The market for lambs and sheep has grown in recent years and shows signs of continued growth. Several farmers in Whitley County have added sheep to the diversity of crops produced on their farms. As sheep numbers climbed so did conflicts with wildlife preying on herds, in particular, coyotes, bobcats, and black headed vultures. Working with the Southeast Kentucky Sheep Producers Association the ANR agent hosted a predator management workshop on April 23, 2022. In addition to SEKSPA, cooperators included UK Wildlife Extension Specialist, United Trappers of Kentucky, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Tarter Gate and Farm Equipment Company, Moonlight Meat Processing, and WD Bryant and Sons Hardware. The event was conducted on a Saturday to accommodate participants' work schedules. The first half of the day was spent in the classroom learning legal considerations of predator management, fencing and exclusion techniques, guard animal benefits, guard animal health considerations, and proper sheep housing structures. After a lunch of smoked lamb with sides, activities were moved outside. Predator hunting techniques were presented using demonstrations of mouth calls, electronic game calls and decoy dogs. Trapping and snaring techniques were explained in detail by various trappers. Proper set construction was demonstrated. The philosophy of set location selection was discussed extensively. There were 45 sheep farmers in attendance from 6 counties. All gained knowledge of how to better protect their valuable herds thus giving them the ability to supply more animals to the market.
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